He told the BBC's Andrew Marr Show the Department for Transport is reviewing global security 'all the time' adding: "There are people in this country who would love to smuggle an explosive device onto an aeroplane.

"They would do it if they could".

Chaos: Queues in Sharm El-Sheikh airport (Image: Rowan Griffiths)

But he said today: "If this turns out to be a device planted by an ISIL operative or somebody inspired by ISIL then clearly we will have to look again at the level of security we expect to see in airports in areas where ISIL is active.

"What we have got to do is ensure that airport security everywhere is at the level of the best and that airport security reflects the local conditions.

"Where there is a higher local threat level that will mean higher levels of security are required.

"That may mean additional costs, it may mean additional delays at airports as people check in."

Tragedy: The Russian jet which came down in the Sinai desert killing 224 people (Image: Getty)

Fresh claims emerged about the chaos at the Egyptian airport today, including that a CCTV station to monitor baggage handlers was routinely abandoned.

A source told the Independent on Sunday it was '50-50' whether the screens were monitored adding: "It happens sometimes that no one is there".

"There was an Egyptian military exercise going on on the ground and I was satisfied at the end of that investigation that that was not an attempt on the plane. The plane was not in danger at any time."